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Christian Fiction Reviews, April 15, 2012

The next three months are all about series. Some first books in new series are coming out (R.J. Larson’s Prophet and Dani Pettrey’s Submerged from Bethany House, as well as Jill Eileen Smith’s Sarai from Revell). Meanwhile, established series continue. Fans of suspense stories will be thrilled with the latest entry in Davis Bunn’s Marc Royce series, which finds the ex-intelligence officer once again undercover. That same audience should also enjoy Relentless Pursuit, the third entry in Kathy Herman’s Secrets of Roux River Bayou series. Readers who love both Amish fiction and mysteries will be pleased to find elements of both genres in Vanetta Chapman’s second entry in the Shipewana Amish Mystery series, A Perfect Square.

Historical fiction also dominates the scene, with Mesu Andrews’s story of Arielah and Solomon (Love’s Sacred Song), Tracy Higley’s story of the daughter of King Nebuchadnezzar (Garden of Madness),and Kathleen Morgan’s A Love Forbidden.

Whether your readers favor contemporary stories, historical romances, or Christian suspense, they are sure to discover something of interest among this season’s offerings, so sit back and get ready to order books.

The Istgard have renounced the Infinite, so he has called on Ela Roeh to become his prophet. She’s not the most likely choice for the job, being 17 and unrefined. On top of that, she’s female‚ a first time for a prophet. Still, she accepts the role and tries to bring His message to her war-torn nation. In her new role, she meets an ambassador named Kien, and they form an alliance. Soon, Ela must decide how to keep true to her promise while following her heart.VERDICT Character-driven and suspenseful, this outstanding YA speculative fiction launch does a great job of world building. Bethany House is marketing it heavily to fans of The Hunger Games trilogy, so demand should be high.

Beckon, WY, is known for the Native American legend of the soul eater. Three people travel to the town for different reasons. Jack is looking for clues to his father’s disappearance. Elina seeks her missing cousin, George a cure for his wife, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. Each of them finds a secret in Beckon, though it is not the answer that any of them is looking for. The question is, will any of them make it back home? VERDICT Fast-paced and violent, this creepy thriller by the Christie Award‚ winning author of Vanish should appeal to fans of Frank Peretti and Terri Blackstock.

Kate Donovan is known for her stubbornness, which hasn’t helped her dating relationships in the least. She’s feeling burned out and jumps at the chance to accompany her grandmother to her ancestral home in Redbud, PA. Then she meets the man hired to renovate the house. While he’s certainly a looker, it is also clear that he is deeply wounded. Can she help him find his way back from the darkness? VERDICT A feisty heroine, romance, and comedy make this a fabulous debut and Wade an author to follow. Recommended to readers who enjoy Melody Carson.